Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the gifted eARC. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I have been a fan of Brigid Kemmerer's YA books for a while now so I was eager to read her newest adult fantasy. Warrior Princess Assassin is one of the best fantasy books I've read recently!

People, this book was stressful! We jump right into the story with Princess Jory preparing to meet her betrothed, King Maddox Kyronan. She knows very little about him other than his reputation for brutality and fire magic. King Maddox Kyronan is coming to secure an alliance that he desperately needs to help his people. Meanwhile, Jory's childhood best friend, Asher, gets a new assignment to assassinate two targets, Jory and Maddox. This is a plot ripe for tension, conflicting loyalties, intrigue, and adventure. And it does deliver!

Warrior Princess Assassin has court politics, intrigue, magic, romance, betrayal. The fantasy elements, the plot, and the romance were so well balanced. Not to mention that this book has the fantasy romance love triangle of my dreams! Seriously, I need more of this.

The worst part about getting to read this early is that now I have to wait even longer for the next book. I'm definitely planning to snag a physical copy as soon as it comes out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

3.75 stars rounded up. This is in no way a perfect book but it was somehow incredibly addicting anyways, and I devoured this in 2 days. This book is mostly character-driven rather than plot-driven, and what little plot there was was very predictable and the politics were not very complex. However, the relationships made up for it. I've been looking for better developed polyamory in SFF and I think this hits the mark; it feels slightly rushed when you consider the actual timeline (about a week or so in-universe), but in practice, it was a great slow-burn (if a little bit insta-trusty and too ready to info-dump in the beginning), and you can easily see the individual bonds between the three of them grow and how they uplift and balance each other out perfectly, especially in the latter half of the book. I particularly enjoyed Asher and Ky's relationship and thought it had the most depth (really appreciated their scenes alone together), while I think the weakest character was Jory given she's a sheltered princess and she doesn't necessarily live up to the praise her love interests heap on her, but I'm hoping she gets more growth in the sequel. All in all, despite its flaws, a very enjoyable read and I'm excited for the next one.

Brigid did it again! Warrior Princess Assassin kept me hooked from beginning to end. The three POVs were all so interesting and added depth to the story in unique ways. Each character brought something different to the table, and I loved seeing how their paths intertwined.

One small flaw was that some of the timelines felt like they overlapped a bit, but that’s to be expected when juggling three POVs at once. Another thing to note is that it’s not common knowledge going in that this book is why-choose. Personally, this didn’t bother me at all—but I know it might not be for everyone.

I’m so grateful to have received an ARC—this book was such a thrilling ride. I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the series and see where not only the plot goes, but where the characters end up!

I've been excited to read Kemmerer's adult debut fantasy, but honestly? This kind of felt like I was reading any of her other YA books with added "adult" themes. Take them out, and you pretty much have any generic YA fantasy that's been released over the last five years. Actually, keep in the adult themes and it's basically the same.

WARRIOR PRINCESS ASSASSIN is exactly what it says on the cover. A romantasy that follows three people caught up in a political game of cat and mouse who must all decide whether to trust each other and find out who is behind wanting to kill the King (Warrior) and Princess. Could it be the Assassin who loves the sheltered princess but is broken by the kingdom he calls home? WPA doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, nor does it need to, but I was still hoping for something more. The three main characters seemed like such stereotypes of the genre that had absolutely no personalities whatsoever. In the opening chapters of the Warrior's POV, we have him blushing - blushing! This supposedly fearsome man whose own kingdom loathes him.

I stuck around mainly to see how the "love triangle" would play out, and I have to admit I'm curious as to how it goes since we only get the bare threads of almost nothing but hints of a potential throuple in book one. Judging by the way people reacted to the Fire & Ash books, I'm interested to see how this plays out in a traditionally published book, especially by an author who is mostly well known for her solid YA fantasies (as opposed to say, JLA, who writes more crossover fantasy). It seems like another Avon romantasy is heading in this direction (Fire in the Sky, Sophie Jordan), so will we see more mainstream polyamory in adult romantasies coming? I'm totally down for this, but I think readers will want to have this communicated straight up what the intention is.

All in all, an okay start but feels like it will get lost in the dearth of all the other generic romantasies out there. Hoping Book 2 proves me wrong.

4.75 on StoryGraph

This book is a love letter to the fantasy romance genre, and an absolutely delightful read for people who love character driven stories.

I heard Brigid speak at a conference earlier this year and thought she was so funny and passionate, that I added her upcoming adult novel to my list of books to read without knowing anything about it. I dove in without looking at any of the background and I didn’t know what to expect, but my expectations were surpassed!

This book is a character driven story about our trio, a princess, a warrior, and an assassin, who are forced to work together for the good of their kingdoms and themselves. Now there is a plot of what is going on with each of the kingdoms, but the point of the book here is the characters, the relationships they have with each other and how they view themselves. The story is how these characters interact with each other and determine how to react to the plot rather than the story beats themselves.

If you like stories like that, you’re going to love this book. Personally, I LOVED it. I’m a huge fan of character tension and this book delivers it in spades. This book is MMF, all our characters are interested in each other and this set up brings some fantastic and fun dynamics. Because each of the characters related to each other in such different ways, the POV changes never felt confusing or choppy because it was easy enough to pick up on who was speaking. I also was eager to keep reading to see what everyone was thinking!

I’m eager to see where things go in the next book as there are still a few secrets that have been hinted at and I cannot wait to see how they play out.

Super fun, fast read, and one that I’ll most likely pick up a special edition of for my own library.

I had no idea what i was in for with this one but it turned out to be a pretty fun ride. I was hooked from the beginning and read it pretty quick. There were somethings that were a little predictable but i still really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the next one.

Warrior Princess Assassin was an unexpected delight! As a fan of Kemmerer's books, I was eager to dig into this one. I simply couldn't put it down.

The Warrior, King Maddox Kyronan must marry to save his kingdom, Princess Jory's hand has been promised as part of the alliance and she knows she must marry for the good of her people, and the Assassin Asher is trying his hardest to survive and never let Jory see just how tragic his life has become since the carefree days of their childhood. Together these three could be a formidible team but there is little trust and a lot of baggage that they all carry. Can they get past all the hurt and miscommunication to save both Ky's and Jory's kingdoms with the forces that want to destroy them (there's a lot!)?

As this is book 1 of a series, we have a solid foundation for the next installment and I cannot wait to dig back into this story.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for sharing the ARC, it was a pleasure to read. All opinions are my own.

2 stars — I survived…but barely.

This book? A masterclass in absolutely nothing happening. Like, I kept waiting for the plot to show up and it was like, “Sorry babe, stuck in traffic. Maybe next chapter.” Spoiler alert: it never arrived.

We’ve got a fire king, a storm princess, and a sad assassin with a tragic backstory and big betrayal vibes—and yet somehow I was more emotionally invested in my grocery list than any of them. The drama potential was there, don’t get me wrong. But it was buried under 400 pages of slow burn that forgot to ever catch fire.

I came for spice and stabbing and secrets—got a snoozefest with a side of indecisive yearning and weird pacing. You ever read something and feel like the author is just lovingly describing curtains while the plot quietly dies in the corner? Yeah. That.

I wanted to love this. I brought snacks. I had hopes. But now I just want my time refunded and my eyeballs iced. Please.

Next!

Okay Ms. Brigid Kemmerer... I see you with your SLOOOOWW burn adult fantasy debut. Overall, a very enjoyable read. The last 10% was a wild ride and I can’t believe you made us wait so long for the “circle of safety,” just saying.

Brigid has a great writing style that is easy to read and understand while still being engaging. I do feel like the story was mostly driving by the love triangle and because I didn't have a great connection with any of those characters, it fell a bit flat for me. Most chapters felt like the character was mostly just thinking about if they were interested in the other two main characters instead of the plot/looming war. I think I would have liked to see the back story flushed out a bit more and seen some more growth to feel more of a connection prior to them actually engaging in the love thoughts. As we neared the end of the book the plot began to pick up a bit more and I found myself more interested in the story so I would still probably pick up book two (assuming there will be one).

Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager for this eARC!

Brigid Kemmerer has already proven herself time and again as a fantastic author of novels in the fantasy YA space so I was excited to pick up Warrior Princess Assassin and was not disappointed! The three characters have distinct POV styles and seeing the detailed action unfold from shifting perspectives keeps the plot moving along very quickly.

I love the way that the true motives of each character are gradually revealed and the way each one is fighting a battle the others do not realize right away. The slowly burning tension and chemistry between all three main characters is top notch. Sharing a horse and a room in the inn, stealing touches and heated glances have all three of the characters questioning themselves and the reader possibly kicking your feet.

Thank you so much to Avon / Harper Voyager & Netgalley for the gifted e-arc!!

4.5 stars

I am entirely obsessed..seriously such an AMAZING book!

I'm a huge fan of Brigid's writing, and Warrior Princess Assassin did not disappoint! I was immediately hooked from the first few pages and I loved how the book was told in 3 POV's between Jory, Asher, and Ky.

Also so looking forward to seeing how Jory, Asher, and Ky's relationship progresses in book 2!! I loved the moments we got between Asher and Ky!!

I can't wait for book 2, and I definitely will be recommending this book to everyone!

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. Which isn't surprising because I love everything Brigid Kemmerer writes. This book is packed with action, political intrigue, and a characters you'll instantly root for. The relationships between the characters felt genuine. It wasn't all just about the action; the bonds of loyalty and the developing connections really resonated and I liked having the POV of the three main characters to see it. The world-building is great, and the plot keeps you hooked until the very last page. I highly recommend it!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a Brigid fan page only!!!

As soon as I heard the Brigid was releasing an adult romantasy I knew I had to have it, and I had to have it NOW. I’m in love with the warrior, the princess, and the assassin and I probably will be for all of time. The political intrigue, banter, and EPIC tension had me up until literally 5am finishing the book while simultaneously blowing up Brigid's instagram DMs (sorry not sorry).

I’m going to keep most of my thoughts to myself until closer to release (12 Aug 2025) but let me just say, put this one your radar! Trust me, you will not regret it! 🖤

Wow! What an explosive start to a brand new fantasy series from Brigid Kemmerer!

My best piece of advice is to go in to this blind. But know that the book centers around 3 main characters: the Warrior, King Maddox “Ky” Kyronan; the Princess, Marjoriana or “Jory”; and the Assassin, Asher. The three find themselves in the middle of an adventure featuring warring nations, political intrigue, a botched assassination, a betrothal (of sorts), and a whole lot of lies.

I am a huge fan of Brigid Kemmerer! Her young adult books are some of my very favorite reads, and I have to tell you, I was not disappointed by her adult debut! Like with her YA fantasies, it was so easy to fall into this new world that she created. And despite the fact that she writes high fantasy, the characters all felt very relatable and real. I loved that all three points of view were incorporated into the book. I particularly loved reading from Asher and Ky’s points of view. Of the three main characters, those two, to me, had the most depth.

I have a feeling we’ve just scratched the surface with this series and I cannot wait for the next two books to come out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/HarperCollins for the ARC!

100/10. This was perfection. I cannot believe that I have to wait to read the next one. This is what I want when I say I want Romantasy. Absolute perfection. No notes.

With an alliance forming, and hits for royalties lives, a warrior, a princess, and an assassin have to team up to keep themselves- and their kingdoms- safe.
As always, Brigid Kemmerer’s books are the absolute best fantasy in my opinion. There’s no book that she’s written that hasn’t immediately grasped my attention and made me want to read more and more forever. I could read her writing forever, gonna be honest. This book was absolutely no exception. Even though it was her first adult book, and the themes were more elevated than her YA ones, the quality of her writing and her storytelling, and everything in between did not waver.
Thank you so so much to NetGalley and Avon for an eARC of this book!!

Brigid Kemmerer has made the jump from YA Fantasy/YA Romantasy to Adult Romantasy FLAWLESSLY. Told from the POV from our three titular characters, this story sets us up for what will easily be a favorite for many. Our Warrior, Ky, is a warrior king of a tired nation. Along with a guard of some of his most loyal soldiers, Ky is en route to meet his bride-to-be, Jory. Arranged to be married in order to secure an alliance between their two kingdoms, our Princess, Jory, could not feel more trapped. Her asshole brother has set this marriage up and she has had no say in the matter. And any time she tries to bring her worries to his attention he is, lets say, LESS than receptive. Her only reprieve is her best friend since childhood, Asher. Completely in love with his best friend, our Assassin, Asher, has completely shut his emotions away from the world. Having already convinced himself that someone like him could never have the woman he loves, he simulatiously pushes her away, and yet can't stay away from her.

One of the first things I noticed in this book is how UNIQUE each character feels. Even though we have 3 main POVs, none of them feels sidelined, and they all have their own motivations, their own secrets, and their own hearts. Kemmerer has also pulled off a Why Choose romance in a way that is believable for me. The few Why Choose's that I have read always feel like 1 of the 3 romances is stronger, or like there is a clear weak link. But not here. Jory's and Asher's relationship is already established in a way. And you quickly see Asher flush at the idea of Ky. Ky and Jory also develop their own hot and cold relationship. All 3 are special, and all 3 shine. At first, I fretted that this would be a love triangle, but by 25% in I realized we had the potential for MULTIPLE HEAs, and I was overjoyed. I was pulled in to this world. The side characters that we spend the most time with are Ky's men, and they are all delightful (personally - I'm partial to Garrett). Outside of that we have Jory's main lady in waiting, and her dick of an older brother, Prince Dane.

What is the worst thing that can happen for two kingdoms that are trying to ally against a third foe? When each side seemingly takes out an assassin contract for the other. Forced to flee, Jory, Asher, and an mostly unwilling Ky begin to grow closer as they try to discover who would be trying to kill them, and who they are able to trust.

There is so much more for this book that I could gush over, but I don't want to give too much away. But if you are able to pick this up when it comes out, I would HIGHLY recommend it.

I absolutely loved Brigid Kemmerer’s books and was so excited to hear she wrote an adult romantasy.

I honestly still don’t know what to think of this book. I enjoyed the world and couldn’t put the book down but I thought the characters were just okay. I really enjoyed Ky and felt so bad for Asher, but Jory didn’t make me feel anything for her. She was just a sheltered princess.

From the description I was expecting this to be a love triangle but was not expecting a throuple/why choose. I WAS SHOCKED LOL. I honestly don’t know if I liked it or not.

The story seemed to have a lot happening but also not a lot happening at the same time. The cliffhanger does have me intrigued to read the next book.

This was not the first book I read from Brigid Kemmerer and I went in with high expectations that were clearly met! This book was every bit as good as her previous fantasy books and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages for a second. The trio is definitely a favorite of mine and the plot was well developed in my opinion.

I love the relationship and banter between Ky, Jory, and Asher. My feelings for them grew from the moment they were together until the end! I am looking forward to reading more of their story in the next book! I give this book 5/5 stars.